The Hero Became a Succubus, and the Only Way to Level is to… What?!

On the evening of the East Saviran Trade Association's banquet, just shy of an hour before the event, Alicia sharpened her knives with a whetstone and counted her vials of venom. Cold water ran down her fingers from a trough as she pushed the blade against stone. Failure wasn't an option tonight. In truth, the mission itself didn't matter so much to her. But because the order came directly from Knight-Commander Amethyst— from Kanae Toyomi— that she couldn't afford to fail.

While Alicia prepared, Kanae was on her way with Sadul to the banquet held at the southern spire of The Diamond. The assassin, Romira, would attempt to poison numerous guests there. In truth, their lives didn't matter to Alicia. But they did to Kanae, and that was all the impetus she needed.

There used to be a time when Alicia cared little for anything other than her sisters. The Queen-Mother's love and orders were absolute. But they betrayed her. They trapped her underneath a temple to do their bidding for centuries, with nothing but the cold walls and humming portals for company. Then… Kanae and Claudia came for her, like a bright like in the darkness.

Becoming a citizen of the Commonwealth of Sin was a foreign thing. To walk amongst and converse with cattle used to be unheard of for her. But Kanae had given her purpose. Given her warmth.

Sighing, Alicia glanced up. The room was dark and quiet. For a rogue, these were once her comforts. Not anymore. Shadows seemed to dart about in the corners of her vision. Hushed whispers, like a caressing wind, assailed her from every direction.

Alicia shuddered and shook her head, casting away the biting terrors. She wasn't alone anymore. She found love in someone. She reunited with two sisters, Hilde and Claudia. She even befriended what would have been regarded as cattle years past.

But despite all these reassurances, Alicia was still hard pressed to be certain. What if she hadn't broken free of Ambrosia's grip yet? What if allowing her to be found by Kanae and Claudia turned out to be some scheme? The enchanted ink, which had taken shape as a vulgar comment, served as proof that her agency was her own again.

"We've only been apart for half an hour, and I already want to see you again…" Alicia muttered under her breath.

The door swung open. In came the half-succubus squirreling, who was one of Kanae's closest friends.

"You ready yet? And sheesh, why is it so dark? Turn on the lights, will ya! I might be a necromancer, but even I like being able to see." Edina ignited the brazier on her staff and illuminated the room in its purple glow.

"Edina… we have our rooms specifically for our own privacy. What's the point if you're barging in all the time?" Alicia frowned.

"You preaching about privacy is falling on deaf ears! Don't think I haven't noticed you sneaking into Kanae's room all the time," she said.

"I do so only to make sure she is safe. At any rate, yes. I'm ready. Romira will not have her way this time. A true assassin would not have been so messy."

Alicia casted Magical Stealth on herself and Edina, and the two took off from the window of their room. The south tower could be seen from where they left. Like the other three, they stretched into the heavens.

Their task was simple: locate the poisoned foodstuffs. If Romira or any of her stalkers were skulking around, then capture them. Kanae was relying on the two, because she would be busy mingling and befriending the association members. They couldn't allow those same members, at least those who were loyal to Sultana Dudula, to fall victim to Romira's plot tonight.

After all, the smooth passage of this banquet was a key step to the plan Kanae had confided with Alicia in. That being, the acquisition of Savir into what would eventually become the Empire of the Commonwealth. She intended to do this for Kanae, not out of duty as a member of Amethyst Hall or a sense of obligation to repay her for this freedom, but for love.

When they reached the tower, hundreds of people were slowly shuffling up the steps to enter. Kanae and Sadul were among them, or perhaps already inside. Many were dressed in exotic and beautiful gowns, undoubtedly far too exorbitant for the common citizen. They came in large carriages pulled by the healthiest beasts. They wore dresses made of vibrant feathers, suits inlaid with gemstones, and jewelry clung to the fingers and ears of every guest. 

These were the elites of the East Saviran Trading Association, who had no idea that an assassin sought to end their lives. Well, not if Alicia and her squirreling partner had anything to say about it.

"Look at them, flaunting their goods. I can go down right now and swoop off some rings and necklaces, and they would be none the wiser. Heh… Hehe… gold rings, diamond earrings…" Edina slowly drifted down, lured in by the glint of trinkets.

"Edina, not now. Kanae entrusted us with a very important task!" Alicia grabbed hold of the squirreling before she went too far.

Kanae had warned of Edina's kleptomaniacal inclinations. Alicia just didn't know to what extent it could seduce her. What a strange woman, to be so wealthy herself and yet desire so much to continue taking from others.

"Hey, lookie there. Someone left a window open." Edina snapped out of it and pointed to an opening with a bright light.

It was maybe a floor beneath where the guests were entering from. Judging by the wagons and carts off-loading crates, this must be where the food was coming from. When they drew closer to peer inside, the savory scent of gourmet cuisine proved that to be true. Servants and cooks raced around the kitchens, delivering meals outside and empty plates in. The head chef, a large centaur man, barked orders to his subordinates.

The two entered from the window, staying close to the ceiling and out of the way of rushing cooks. They hovered over the food to try and spot anything suspicious, but nothing was ringing any alarm bells. These cooks were just doing their jobs as usual.

At least until Alicia noticed one elven man pulling out a dark vial and dripping some liquid into some cake batter. He mixed it in and went to do something else, leaving the bowl behind.

"I believe we've found our culprit," Alicia said.

"You sure about that?" Edina furrowed her brows and flew over to the bowl of batter.

"We will need to quietly dispose of this somehow…" She waited for an opening when the squirreling dipped her finger into the mixture. "What are you doing?!"

Edina stuffed the same finger into her mouth and smacked her lips.

"It's just vanilla extract. Could use a few more drops though. Tastes bland." Edina double-dipped her finger for another taste.

"If that was poisoned, you could have been seriously hurt…" Alicia sighed.

"I'm part undead, so I have resistance to poison! Most it'll do is give me the runs," she explained.

Back to square one then.

The kitchens were incredibly loud. Alicia squeezed her eyes shut to think. Where would Romira and the assassins be? Poisoning the goods before they arrived here would probably have been their best move. Trying to plant poison with all the commotion going on might be too difficult. If it were up to her, with all the cargo coming and going, swapping in the poisoned stuff to replace an existing stock made the most sense.

They needed to find where the wine cellars were first. Alicia beckoned Edina to follow. She leaned next to the head chef and placed a charm on him.

"Dismiss yourself and lead us to where you keep your wine," Alicia whispered to the centaur.

"I'll be heading to the cellars to check on the wine. The desserts better be ready by the time I return!" he bellowed.

The hallway was just as crowded. Waiters pulled their carts up to the kitchen chamber to restock, then hurried down the corridor, presumably to the banquet floor. Alicia and Edina made themselves comfortable on the centaur man's back. Servants jumped aside to let him through, not willing to try the scowl on his face.

They descended to a basement floor, and it seemed the Savir heat had vanished. This floor was incredibly cool. Alicia didn't like that. The mild chill served as a harsh reminder of her imprisonment.

Eventually, the centaur pushed open a large wooden door. It gave way to a cellar, stocked with assorted alcoholic drinks from the floor up to the ceiling. There were even bottles typically found only in Ortesia and Artaggon. In spite of Savir's reclusiveness, the East Saviran Trading Association must have quite the webbed network of contacts.

Alicia ordered their unwilling guild away so they could investigate in peace. The cellar was enormous. This was going to take some time. Fortunately, they had just the necromancer to make up for it.

"Edina, we'll need your— Edina?" Alicia glanced left and right, only to realize the squirreling was missing.

Glasses clinked together a few aisle deeper. Alicia tensed up. Whoever it was could be the assassin. She quietly followed the noise expecting to find them. Instead, she came across Edina in the middle of taking a swig of wine.

"What are you doing?" Alicia folded her arms.

"I'm checking if the goods are poisoned! This 409 Lava Brew ain't. Hehehe… Time to taste test some Artaggon whiskey…" Edina popped open the cork just as the cellar door creaked open.

Both of them turned in the direction of the entrance, but the aisles upon aisles of wine shelves obscured their vision. But they didn't need to see to hear the multiple footfalls entering the cellar. Something loud and clunky entered with them, likely a cart of some kind.

"We're still invisible, right?" Edina whispered.

"Yes, but be quiet." Alicia hushed her.

"We have ten minutes," a raspy voice said. "The champagne should be in the back, all gathered and sitting on a counter. Replace them and make it quick."

Alicia and Edina exchanged glances. They flew to the end of the aisle to see eight servants pushing carts full of bottles down the aisle. One of them, who stayed behind at the door, was a beastman woman with dark feline features. She was also dressed in a servant's attire, but similar to the centaur chef who's station was a step above those under him.

The woman's piercing eyes surveyed the cellar, and although she stood alone, Alicia couldn't find any openings. This person was extremely guarded. They had to be the assassin, and it took one to know one.

"Hic!" Edina squeaked loudly, then covered her mouth. "Oops."

That same sharp stare snapped to where they were standing.

"Gods…" Alicia groaned into her hand.

In a split second, the beastman was on top of them with a dagger clenched in each hand. Alicia yanked Edina backwards. The blades struck the shelf instead. She dashed back herself to put distance between them.

"You might be stealthed, but my ears are just as keen. I don't know who you are or what you're doing here, but you won't be leaving this cellar alive!" the assassin shouted.

"Might you be Romira?" Alicia asked, dropping Magical Stealth from her and Edina.

"Succubi…" She glowered. "Yes, I'm Romira. If you somehow found me, it seems I'm starting to lose my touch. You are?"

Alicia didn't answer. She used her tail to motion Edina towards where Romira's men had gone. The squirreling dashed down the aisle without Romira so much as trying to intercept.

"Not worried about your cohorts? That's a capable necromancer going after them," Alicia teased.

"I know better than to take my eyes off someone crowned an Assassin, too. I'll deal with her after I deal with you!" Romira flung a volley of shivs.

When Alicia flew up to evade them, a shadow draped her from above. Romira descended on her with daggers primed for the kill. Alicia met the assassin head on with steel of her own. They jumped from shelf to shelf, knocking over dozens of bottles at a time. Their blades clashed amidst the cacophony of shattering glass.

Both assassins' weapons were coated in venom. They knew this about each other from just a glance. All it took was one cut, one nick, superficial or otherwise, and it was over. While the two were locked in combat, Alicia attempted to charm Romira. However, a sharp pain ran up her spine and scratched at her brain. In that brief moment of distraction, Romira landed a blow. Alicia crashed into the side of a shelf, and bottles of wine rained down on her. She pressed a hand to the small wound on her left arm, already festering from whatever venom the assassin used.

"That look. You just tried to seize my mind! Haha! Those hoighty-toighty elves' potion really work!" Romira laughed.

Alicia clicked her tongue. The anti-succubus magic potion. If only she had a reversal potion on hand, but that wouldn't matter here. Force feeding it to Romira would have been just as difficult.

For some reason, it was getting harder to swallow…

"Are you feeling it?" Romira taunted. "I call it 'Romira's Cocktail' after myself. The coating is a mixture of several rare venomous snakes in Savir. First, your throat tightens. Next, paralysis and you lose your vision soon after. But you keep your hearing and feeling, because I wanted to be sure my victims hear my voice before they go. I'm the only one with the antidote." She patted herself on the chest. "Now to deal with your companion, and then the rest of the banquet. I've got a big pay day ahead of me!"

Thinking herself victorious, Romira turned her back to Alicia. Just like the assassin described, she was seeing less and less. Everything was growing dark, just like underneath the temple. The silence was the most unbearable thing of all…

It was why when Kanae and Claudia had entered, even though she was still under Ambrosia's sway at the time, their voices brought her comfort. Alicia always thought Claudia would be the last thing on her mind. She loved her sister very dearly and would go to war for her. However, Kanae's smile flashed in her mind. Failure wasn't an option. Failing meant letting Kanae down.

Alicia had lost control of her hands by now, but she could still move her tail. The antidote satchel, third compartment from the right. Popping the cork off was the hardest part. It nearly slipped from her hold several times. She tipped the vial into her mouth, but the liquid refused to go down. Her throat had clenched shut. Not willing to let it end here, the succubus tossed the vial away and pressed her tail down her throat to breach an opening.

Soon, Alicia could breathe again. Her sight returned. Time for round two. She picked up her daggers and flew to the back of the cellar.

Edina and her undead minions had defeated Romira's goons. Romira herself looked frustrated. Although the necromancer was covered in cuts, the venom didn't have as strong of an effect.

Silently and quick as a breeze, Alicia slashed Romira across the back. The assassin stumbled forward and whirled around.

"You? How?!" Romira gasped.

"You think you're the only one versed in venom? I reverse-concocted your venom when I purchased Romira's Cocktail from Jarka." Alicia sneered and sheathed her blades now that victory was assured.

Romira panicked, searching her person for an antidote. She found it and emptied the vial down her throat. But the antidote did nothing for her. She collapsed to the ground, unable to move.

"What… did you cut me… with?" Romira muttered past stiff lips.

"Did you think I had coated my weapons with your special cocktail, too? Oh, no. It is a simple venom of paralysis. Unlike you, I have no need for theatrics. It matters only that I get the job done," Alicia taunted in return.

"Whew. Glad I'm not on the receiving end of that venom this time." Edina skipped over and slapped Alicia on the back.

"What happened to the poisoned champagne?" she asked.

Edina thumbed behind her to the puddle of broken glass and fizzy alcohol. The crates of non-poisoned champagne remained untouched on the counter. When the servants inevitably arrived, they would have the misfortune of cleaning all this up, but that was better than dealing with numerous dead banquet guests.

Alicia fetched the centaur head chef back with a cart, then stuffed the paralyzed Romira in for questioning later. She and Edina dressed themselves in servant's clothing before setting off upstairs in search of Kanae.

The magnificent banquet hall was abuzz with energy, and no one was dead. Unfortunately, they couldn't find Kanae. They did come across a sulking Sadul, who knew where she was. He led them upstairs to someone's bedroom, inside of which sounded like an orgy was taking place.

They threw open the door to find Kanae sandwiched between two men. She had dicks all around her, their seed drenching her entire body and hair. A true feasting succubus, having the time of her life.

"Yes! More, harder! I love being fucked in both holes! I'm getting close… I'm getting—" Kanae locked eyes with Alicia and Edina.

"The eternal horndog strikes again. We'll leave you to it." Edina grinned.

"We're here to report our mission is complete. The poisoned wine has been dismantled. Romira also won't be a problem anymore. We shall see you back at the inn, since it appears you are currently indisposed." Alicia giggled, shutting the door on the way out.

"Eh? Wait! It's not what you guys think! I'm just… I'm cumming— aahhh!" she howled.

Suffice it to say, there had been no shortage of excitement being by Kanae's side. Alicia could think of no better place to spend her newfound freedom.